Four Injured in Crash with Pinellas Prison Transport Van

PINELLAS COUNTY – Four people were injured Sunday (March 5) in a crash between an SUV and a Pinellas sheriff’s prison transport van, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Laura Chase, 49, of Oldsmar, the driver of a 2017 Kia Sportage and her passengers, Stan Chase, 53, and Kailey Glore, 12, both of Oldsmar, received non-life threatening injuries. Jesus Ortiz, 31, the driver of the transport van, also received non-life threatening injuries. All were taken to a nearby hospital. There were no passengers or inmates inside the prisoner transport van at the time of the crash. Neither impairment nor speed was a factor in the crash.

The crash happened about 8:40 p.m. at the intersection of McMullen Booth Road and Sunset Point Road in Clearwater. Deputies said G4S Security Officer Jesus Ortiz was driving a 2009 Chevrolet Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office van. He was stopped in the northbound left turn lane on McMullen Booth Road waiting for the red arrow traffic signal to to change so he could make a left turn onto Sunset Point Road.

While waiting for the traffic light to change, northbound traffic on McMullen Booth Road received a green traffic light. Ortiz proceeded through the intersection with the traffic; however, the traffic signal in his left turn lane was still red, deputies said. Ortiz continued making the left westbound turn through the intersection and drove into the path of the Sportage, which was driven by Laura Chase. Deputies said Ms. Chase had a green traffic light as she proceeded southbound through the intersection and struck the passenger side of the van.